"I approve of this message (pause) because I thought it was important for you to see it."

Coleman's aim: to portray Franken, a comedian and writer, as an angry, ill-tempered outsider who is fundamentally un-Minnesotan.

The hard-edged approach comes after a bevy of news articles highlighting Coleman's relationship with a GOP operative who rents the senator a room and toilet for $600 a month.

UPDATE: Franken Spokeswoman Colleen Murray responds:"Norm Coleman says he wants you to see this because what he doesn't want you to see is his record of supporting George Bush nearly 90 percent of the time, selling out to the special interests, and ignoring Minnesota's middle class."